There are many ways bowhunters test their skills. It’s one of the most rewarding aspects of bowhunting. Whether it’s harvesting your first animal with a bow or taking every single big game species with archery equipment, bowhunting allows hunters to set individual achievements.
Accomplishing any goal in bowhunting is a true feat that requires skill, practice and patience. However, some goals also require extensive time, travel and commitment. Many bowhunters dream of completing a slam. In hunting, a slam refers to the achievement of harvesting a set of pre-defined game species or subspecies. This can also be within a certain timeframe or geographical area.
Some slams allow species to be harvested with firearms and archery equipment, while others are specific to archery equipment. For example, the Archery Super Slam is the most well-known slam among bowhunters. It’s an event during which a bowhunter legally harvests all 29 recognized North American big game species with archery equipment.
For bowhunters who enjoy chasing gobbles, the National Wild Turkey Federation recognizes six wild turkey slams. According to the NWTF, these include:
Grand Slam: All four U.S. subspecies which consists of the eastern, Osceola or Florida, Rio Grande and Merriam’s. The Grand Slam is the most popularly recognized turkey slam.
Royal Slam: The Grand Slam plus a Gould’s, which are found in Mexico and very limited parts of the southwestern United States. Most hunters travel to Mexico to fulfill this slam’s requirements.
World Slam: A Royal Slam with the addition of the ocellated wild turkey, which is found in Mexico and Central America. The name “ocellated” comes from the eye-like spots (ocelli) on their tail feathers, which resemble those of a peacock. Most hunters visit the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico to harvest an ocellated turkey.
Canadian Slam: Harvesting the eastern and Merriam’s in any Canadian province.
Mexican Slam: Harvesting a Rio Grande, Gould’s and ocellated wild turkey within Mexico only.
U.S. Super Slam: Harvest one wild turkey of any subspecies in every state, with the exception of Alaska, which does not host a self-sustaining wild turkey population. The NWTF considers the U.S. Super Slam the most difficult of all the slams.
The NWTF turkey slams can be completed with firearms, archery equipment or a combination. Hunters can register their slam completions with the NWTF. The conservation organization recognizes the hunter’s achievement with a slam certificate and slam pin. Additionally, the hunter’s name is published on the NWTF website under the section of the slam they completed. NWTF requires very specific documentation in order to be recognized, so it’s important to research this information beforehand. Only a very small percentage of turkey hunters ever complete slams, especially with archery equipment.
Completing a slam isn’t as simple as learning the tactics of turkey hunting. It doesn’t happen without meticulous preparation and planning that happens well beyond the woods. First, you need to carefully select which slam you’d like to complete. Once you know which turkey subspecies you’d like to pursue, you then need to research where these turkeys reside and which states/countries have legal hunting seasons for the subspecies.
Within the U.S., the eastern is the most abundant subspecies. Easterns are located in all states bordering the Mississippi River, and all states east of the Mississippi River. Merriam’s are located in the Rocky Mountain states. Rio Grande turkeys are located from Nebraska to Texas and along the West Coast. The most difficult species to target in the U.S. is the Osceola, which are primarily limited to Florida.
Perhaps the biggest challenge, outside of hunting, for those in pursuit of the slam is securing tags for each specific subspecies. To complete any of the slams, you will need to hunt across a variety of states/countries. This will require applying and purchasing a variety of over-the-counter and special draw tags. You will need to do your research by looking into each state’s specific regulations and following the application or purchasing process.
Whether you’re looking to harvest your first turkey or have set your sights on achieving a slam, turkey hunting with a bow in your hand is an exhilarating way to spend the spring.
